MY FIRSt KIss

6:00 AM. OUT OF THE STORAGE ROOM*

The door opened.

A nurse came in. "Madam’s orders. Go to the patient.

But don’t make noise. Or I’ll lock you up again."

2 servants helped Olivia up.

Body bruised. Arms swollen. She couldn’t walk.

Limping, she came into Ethan’s room.

: 6:10 AM. ETHAN'S ROOM*

Machines. Oxygen. IV drip.

Ethan was on the bed. Completely unconscious.

Face pale. Lips blue.

In 5 days he had gotten even weaker.

Olivia knelt down beside the bed.

"...Ethan..." She said in a trembling voice.

No answer.

She took Ethan’s cold hand. Held it to her cheek.

Tears fell.

*7:00 AM. CARE THROUGH TEARS*

Olivia gave the medicine. Checked the drip.

Massaged him. Rubbed his feet.

Everything just like before.

But now with crying too.

"...I’m giving the medicine on time, Ethan..."

"...see... I’m marking the chart too..."

"...please wake up... just open your eyes once..."

She put a cold compress on Ethan’s forehead.

"You have a fever..."

Machine beep: beep... beep...

: 10:00 AM. MEMORIES*

Olivia sat on the chair. Holding Ethan’s hand.

Memories in her mind:

_First day. "Olivia, get up."_

_Garden. "The air is nice."_

_"We’re friends, right..."_

_"Don’t leave me..."_

She rested her head on Ethan’s hand.

"I didn’t leave, Ethan. You promised you’d get better."

She started crying harder.

: 1:00 PM. LONELINESS*

Silence in the house.

Victoria was out. At an event.

Amelia was with friends.

Lucas at the office.

Only the nurse came for 5 minutes.

"Still alive or dead?" and left.

Olivia was alone. With Ethan.

She ran her fingers through Ethan’s hair.

"There’s a wound here... who hit you?"

She showed her own wounds. "See... they hit me too."

She laughed. Through tears.

5:00 PM. TALKING*

Olivia started talking. Like Ethan could hear.

"Ethan remember? You said you like coffee.

I’ll make it today. When you wake up."

"The flowers in the garden died. I’ll plant new ones."

"Your book is unfinished. I want to hear the ending."

After every sentence, silence.

Only the sound of the machine.

Olivia got tired. Rested her head on Ethan’s bed.

: 9:00 PM. NIGHT. BROKEN HEART*

Dim light.

Olivia checked Ethan’s BP. It was dropping.

She called the nurse. The nurse gave an injection. "He’ll be fine."

The nurse left.

Olivia was alone again.

She took Ethan’s hand in both of hers.

Kissed it.

"...I’m tired, Ethan..."

"...everyone thinks I’m a thief..."

"...they hurt me..."

"...but I won’t leave you..."

She started crying. A heartbreaking cry.

: 11:30 PM. FIRST KISS - PART 1*

Crying, Olivia leaned forward.

She kissed Ethan’s forehead.

"...my love..."

Then his cheek.

"...forgive me... I couldn’t save you..."

Then his hand.

"...because of you I’m alive..."

Tears were falling on Ethan’s face.

Olivia closed her eyes.

Only one thought in her heart: _Just once. Just once._

11:31 PM. FIRST KISS - PART 2*

She slowly leaned down...

And pressed a soft, trembling kiss to Ethan’s dry lips.

Gentle. Cold.

Her tears slid between them, warm against his skin.

Her hand came up, fingers barely touching his jaw, holding him like he might disappear.

1 second.

2 seconds.

3 seconds.

When she pulled back, she was sobbing. "Sorry... sorry... I..."

She looked up, face red with shame.

"Did... did I do something wrong?"

She looked at Ethan’s face.

No movement.

No faster breathing.

No finger twitched.

Ethan was still unconscious. Completely still.

Olivia’s heart sank.

"...you didn’t... even feel it, did you..."

"...I’m so awful..."

12:00 AM. THE PROMISE*

Olivia held Ethan’s hand to her chest.

"Can you hear me?"

"I promise. As long as you’re breathing.

I’ll sit by you. Every day. Every moment."

"No matter what the world calls me. No matter how much they hurt me."

"I’m your Olivia. Your friend."

She put her hand on Ethan’s forehead again.

And resting her head on that hand, she fell asleep.

The machine kept beeping: beep... beep... beep...

Outside, it started raining.

Inside.

One girl. One unconscious boy.

And a tearful first love.